Beyond Measure. Parametric models to support design implementation

The article explores the relationship between measure and parameter in 3D models intended for manufacturing, focusing on the role of the parameter in defining and manipulating both the shape and the information. It introduces the concept of measurement as passive and active data and examines the second case, where the parameter drives the transformation of the model, becoming an element of indirect manipulation. Active parameters define the geometric properties of shapes and can consist of functions and constraints. The parametric design process also involves the careful design of constraints to ensure morphological and topological consistency during transformations. This article examines the steps in the 3D modelling process, indicating the parameters and actions that lead to the realisation of the design. It goes through different models, from the conceptual model to the fabrication model, highlighting the key role of data in defining form and relationships. The procedural model emerges as a nodal point, identifying the parameter as an element for programming actions and transferring the technological experience of the manufacturer to the machines that will realise the product through a programmed process. The paper concludes by illustrating an applied research experience in which the different models and the role that measurements and parameters play in defining the real model are recognised.